Sactwu Projects

The COSATU-affiliated Southern African Clothing & Textile Workers’ Union is pleased to note that the latest STATS SA Quarterly Employment Survey (QES) shows that employment levels in the clothing, textile, footwear and leather (CTFL) sectors has increased. It is an endorsement that government support for the industry, coupled with our union’s active campaign for jobs, continues to bear fruit. After a period of stabilization following years of job losses, employment in our industry appears poised for growth.

The data is based on the latest Quarterly Employment Survey (QES) for the March 2015 quarter, which was published yesterday, 30 June 2015. It shows that there has been a year to year increase of 1.5% in the number of employees across the CTFL industry from March 2014 to March 2015.

There has also been a 1.5% increase in the number of employees from December 2014 to March 2015 (quarter to quarter). The exact number and percentage changes are summarized in the table below (source: latest QES):
Breakdown of the number of employees year to year and quarter to quarter

In the period for the year from March 2014 to March 2015, total CTFL employment increase was from 87 386 to 88 657, a 1.5 % increase over the past year. Over this period, the highest industry increase in the number of employees was in the leather sector which increased by 4.5 %, second highest was the footwear sector by 3.3 %, followed by the textile sector which increased by 1.5% and then followed by the clothing sector with an increase of 0.8%.
On a quarter to quarter basis, the CTLF industry has had a 1.5 % increase in the number of employees from December 2014 to March 2015. The highest quarterly increase was in the leather sector by 3.9%, second highest was the textile sector by 2.9 % then clothing sector which increased by 1.5 %. The footwear sector had a decrease in the number of employed by 3.8% over the last quarter.
Issued by
Andre Kriel
SACTWU
General Secretary

If further information is required, kindly contact SACTWU’s Mr. Etienne Vlok on office number 021 4474570, or cell number 082 448 0506